Wednesday, September 19, 2001
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Wednesday, September 19, 2001 |
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Candidate answers $50 question Lee Hunt says overregulation inspired him to run for council
By MONROE
ROARK
Lee Hunt is running for Fayetteville City Council over $50. Less than one hour before the qualifying deadline last Wednesday, Hunt made the upcoming elections a bit more interesting by throwing his hat into the ring in Post 3, where he will face incumbent Walt White, the current mayor pro tempore. The incumbents in Posts 4 and 5, Larry Dell and Al Hovey-King, are unopposed. Hunt, a member of the local Libertarian Party, says that his decision to run came after he purchased a new water heater to replace his old one, which was damaged. When he made arrangements to have it installed, he said, he was told that he would have to pay the city a $50 "permit fee" for that privilege. "I was incensed, to say the least," he said. "It is none of the city's business, and was just another creative way for government to get into my wallet for $50. When I am elected to this post, I will actively work to repeal these and other unnecessary and intrusive 'fees.'" Candidates are not restricted to specific districts and run citywide for whatever post they choose. Hunt has given no indication that he preferred to run against White over the other two. "I have no personal agenda against the incumbent, Walt White, and I will not engage in any type of negative personal campaign," he said in a prepared written statement released last week. Hunt says that he is "tired of being overregulated by government" at the state and local level. "Several years ago I came to the realization that neither the Republicans nor the Democrats were interested in pursuing an agenda which would return power and authority to you and me, the taxpaying citizens," he said. "The Republicans and the Democrats continue to vote for and actively support policies which make government bigger and less accountable and responsive. These laws and policies take away your rights as guaranteed by both the U.S. and Georgia constitutions." Hunt's general political philosophy is one that emphasizes less government and more support of local business, according to his press statement. As for specific Fayetteville issues, he says that he wants to see "quality business and residential growth" and work closely with the state to improve traffic flow through the city. He is opposed to additional multifamily residential construction in areas not already zoned for it. A father of two grown daughters, Hunt has worked 22 years for Northwest Airlines, where he is an avionics mechanic. He also has experience as a police officer. A Clayton County native, Hunt was graduated from Forest Park High School and received an associate's degree in criminal justice from Clayton College & State University.
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